Today is the sixth anniversary of my reversion to the Islamic Faith. I said this to a dear Muslim friend, saying that it seemed like a lifetime. Some devout Muslims would say that it has been a lifetime – that I was merely born to the wrong family.
(Seriously, it always seemed to me that I was born to the wrong family. Thought I was switched by the hospital at birth. Both funny and not funny.)
I am, actually rather accidentally, spending the day in solitude. Just as I did on the day of my reversion. Said the words in English, all alone. Later in Abu Dhabi I did have a proper Shahada.
There, at the Zayed House for Islamic Culture a Muslim Sister and I performed a ‘proper’ Shahada, lasting more than thirty minutes, a time filled with both laughter and tears, The poor woman insisted I pronounce the Arabic words properly. I terrible at spoken languages. I was crying tears of joy and laughing at my bungled pronunciation, so appreciative of her patience. She was laughing too.
It has been a truly memorable day, But first, let me tell you of some preceding events. Wondering where I spent my fifth anniversary., having no recall I looked through my iPhotos, as they are dated. It was both eerie and depressing. You shall see the photograph. Taken at night during a rainstorm through a window with raindrops – the headlights of a car and a huge parking structure providing the only relief from the bleak and ominous black. It is a study in loneliness. It was taken from my room in Lyf at the time, probably the GM can tell me the room number if I ask. A year ago it seems I was very lonely. I am not this year, my life has definitely changed. There were hardships – heart breaking betrayals and then my final days in KL were unhappy and onerous. The Quran promises relief. The Quran 94.5-6 Surah Ash-Sharh (The Relief), Sahih International Translation. “For indeed, with hardship (well be) ease. Indeed, with hardship (will be) ease.”
That was yesterday today is today. Today is today – the sixth anniversary of my Shahada
I awoke after a restful sleep, at the perfect time, just prior to the alarm. Upon waking proclaimed with great enthusiasm
Me: Allhanduillah. Allah thank you for waking me up at exactly the right time!
It was time for ablution followed by Fajr prayer. My prayers are private, just Allah and myself. During my days in KL a Muslim woman who was l steeped in the rituals of the Islamic Faith was visiting my apartment at prayer time, observing me at prayer. She criticized my prayer practices. I did not react in anger, did not point out the fallacies in her ritualistic insisted upon practices.
Me: I pray to please Allah, not you.
However, she persisted, and in the midst did show herself to be a hypocrite.The Quran instructs us as to our obligation with hypocrites. Sarah An-Nisa Quran 4.43 includes: “So turn away from them, caution them, and give them advice that will shake their very souls.” Dr. Mustafa Khattab The Clear Quran. This passage addresses hypocrites in the Prophet’s community and says Allah knows there hearts. There are sterner measures but irrelevant at this time.
After prayer I turned to a book, once read in its entirely, but now reading it chapter by chapter. The book is both instructive and inspirational, usually a difficult combination. The book, Reading the Quran. I am presently reading a very meaningful chapter which discusses the use of the Allah Reminder Counter. I began reciting and counting. I have a very simple Allah Reminder Counter, otherwise known as a dhikr, given by a staff member at a five star hotel in Medinah that no longer exists under its name as their contract was not renewed. Whatever, that is irrelevant as well. What is relevant is that I recited and it counted all the way to 1006. Definitely an excellent practice to observe during the anniversary of your sixth Shahada. I am writing this later in the day – the counter now reads 1302.
By then it was beginning to be breakfast time. Decided to put on makeup, but it does not take long. I dressed respectfully as you shall see. A long skirt, a black top and a black abaya gifted by a Saudi scammer, previously discussed on this blog. I carried a black bag that once held a Quran given by the Masjid Kapitan-Keling with the following admonition: Read Al-Quran Let God Speak to You. I was also carrying my Palestinian bag, also gifted by a scammer, of sorts. It says PEACE. My photo was taken in the Lyf lobby – one I edited in black and white, the other is in color. Choose which you prefer. Artificial Intelligence preferred the color as it showed my spirit.
It was off to Mojo for breakfast with makeup intact and dressed. I wore white slippers as I wouldn’t be going outside. A few minutes later I was joined by my Breakfast Buddy and we fell into conversation. I casually looked up to see the Owner wearing a sweat shirt that said “San Francisco.
Me: Oh look at that. I lived there, well there and near there, for fifty years.
But then suddenly I made a connection.
Me: Oh My Allah!! That is where I became a Muslim, living there six years ago today when I did my own make shift” Shahada.
What is the likelihood of that?? What were the chances of her wearing that shirt on this particular day- the sixth anniversary of my becoming a Muslim in that very place? To me, it felt like a little reminder from Allah of where my journey began.
My Breakfast Buddy is irreligious and was not impressed. Later spoke to the Owner, first asking if I could take a photo of her shirt, promising to edit out her head. But then, respecting her privacy, did not take a photograph. – so you will have to take my word for it.
Come to think of it was it irreligious? I guess I will look it up. I did. It means indifferent or hostile to religion, or having no religious beliefs. I think that describes my Breakfast Buddy, so I used the word correctly. Phew.
After the delicious breakfast I went to sit in the Lyf lobby with my computer, this made it possible for me to be my own barista, drinking coffee from the coffee machine and write. I was soon joined my an absolutely darling little two year old, her mother and grandmother. The little girl remembered me from our interactions the day before and with encouragement from her grandmother came and greeted me, inviting me to play with her balloon. She had a Hello Kitty purse around her neck. Her grandmother had her show me her ‘cosmetics’ – toy lipsticks, combs and a mirror. She ran off to play with a Lyf staffer leaving the Indonesian grandmother and I to talk. I learned first hand of the fires, causing haze in all neighboring countries. This is not a new phenomena – learned the fires are a yearly occurrence, been so for the past twenty or thirty years. The government has done nothing to stop them. Six or seven companies are responsible demanding the farmers to burn in order to clear the land for planting cash crops. The government does not ban the practice – the ‘controlled fires’ get out of control. Out of pride the Indonesian government refuses aid from other countries. The Singaporean Minster of the Environment has brought an action against the responsible companies – this is the only solution as the government is impotent (and perhaps corrupt) The grandmother felt such relief – saying that finally something was being done. The history of these practices never heard on on any media, social or otherwise. Instead, vague reports on the out of control fires. Out of all the countries plagued with the haze, it is up to a woman from Singapore to take a stand up and demand redress after all this time. Apparently the haze has very recently reached Jakarta – perhaps the politicians will wake up and smell – not the roses – but the haze. Hahaha. After a few moments the little girl came back to visit me. I opened my purse, showing her my cosmetics, putting blusher on her cheeks. She danced in delight. You shall see a photo of her and a Lyf staffer at the conclusion of the blog. You can easily see which is which. Hahaha The grandmother, her mother and the little girl left promising we would connect with one another tomorrow.
I am reading a chapter in a book Life with the Prophet Mohammed which describes his behavior with other people and different circumstances. One chapter is With children. the Prophet’s (PBUH) behavior with children, I was gratified to read, mirrors my own with kids. Mine must (somehow) be instinctual because I did not have children of my own.
After the family left I noticed a young man, sat an adjoining table near the coffee machine reading a book.
Me: Looks like an interesting book. Did you buy it at a nearby bookstore?
He: Yes, very close by.
Me: I am looking for a copy of The Alchemist perhaps they have a copy. I met a South African man at this hotel who told me of the book. I had never heard of it, nor the author although I am old and well read. Hahaha
He: No they do not have that book. I am familiar with the author, and would like to read more of his work. The only book they have is his autobiography.
The young man, checking out of the hotel, had recently (and thankfully) quit his job. He was a young Muslim, a techie working with politicians to get them re elected. A staff member motioned saying he wished to speak with me. I hurried off. When I returned to my table the young man was gone. But on my computer found a note with the name of the bookstore, the book and,I assume, the young man’s name written on it. The coincidence of It all was again mind boggling. I took a photo of the note sending to to Shareef Hendricks the South Africa man you read about in my blog of October 19. 2026. He who introduced me to Paullo Coehlo and The Alchemist.
He: Amazing!
Me: Yes, I told him about why the Alchemist was on my mind, Said I wrote about our encounter and gave him a blog card so he could read about it.
He: Wow this really amazing U meet the most interesting people. 🤣
Me: Yeah like you.
He: I was referring to myself. 🤣🤣
Me: Of course you were!!! Hahaha 😂What a strange day I am having. This just one example. Unbelievable actually, I am writing about it.
I am sure he will read it. Hahaha He is one of the many, like you, who read my blog. Hahaha
The October 5,2025 photo with the raindrops will follow, then Alexis Alaa McBride taken on her anniversary in black and white and in color Then the photo of the darling little two year old and lastly, the note left on my computer.
